Cable strap



Dec. 30, 1969 H. ORENICK CABLE STRAP Filed July 23. 1968 INVENTOR- EM/LH. oEEN/CK ATTOEA/Ef 3,486,200 CABLE STRAP Emil H. Orenick, 9011 W.Moreland Road, Pal-ma, Ohio 44129 Filed July 23, 1968, Ser. No. 746,854Int. Cl. B65d 63/00 US. Cl. 2416 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Are-usable cable-strap embodying a unitary notched and headed band,wherein the cable encircling band engages its head, and is releasablylocked therein by flexion of the band.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a re-usablecable-strap for maintaining electrical cables used in automobiles,trucks, and the like, in compact bundles wherein the grouped cables aremaintained in parallel alignment as they travel from the control panelto the various operating units.

Another object is to provide such a strap that can be snuggly loopedaround cables and locked in place, without the use of tools.

A further object is to provide a cable-strap having locking means thatcan be released at will, without destroying the strap, which may then bereadily re-applied without eifecting its efficiency.

Still another object is to provide' a unitary cable-strap, of the typestated, that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These, and other objects of the invention, will become apparent from areading of the following specification, together with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by likereference numerals, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the cable-strap that is the subject ofthe invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the strap head, show ing the strap bandin its, flexed, locked position;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the cable-strap, showing its band curvedaround a bundle of cables, prior to its insertion into the head;

FIGURE 5 is a side view, showing the strap pulled through the head andsnuggly surrounding the cable bundle shown in FIGURE 4; and,

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the cable-strap showing its band extendingthrough the head in its upwardly flexed, locked, position, asillustrated, in section, in FIG- URE 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is seen in FIGURES 1and 2 the cable-strap that is the subject of this invention, broadlyindicated by reference numeral 10.

The cable-strap 10 comprises a substantially flat, flexible, band havinga slotted lock-head 13, formed integral therewith, at one end thereof,and a tongue 21 at the other end, adapted to be inserted through thehead slot 14, when the band is curved upon itself, around a bundle ofcables 18, as seen in FIGURE 5.

The cable-strap 10 may be fabricated from any material having therequired physical characteristics of flexibility, dimentional and heatstability, freedom from sharp edges that might abrade the cables, andhigh dielectrical strength.

A preferred material that meets all these qualifications is a plasticcommonly known as nylon.

nited States Patent 0 3,486,209 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 ice This plasticis tough, wear resistant, and stable under temperatures up to 300 R,which is desirable for use around automobile engines, where elevatedtemperatures are common.

The cable-strap 10 is cast in one piece, with the length of the band 20determined by the size of the loop required to encircle the number ofcables 18, to be held therein.

The band 20 is substantially fiat over its length, with a downwardlycurved section 17 and the head,,13, for the purpose of indicating inwhich direction the band should be bent in encircling the held cables18, as seen in FIG- URES 2 and 4.

The head 13 has a slot 14 therethrough, whose floor is in a plane thatis a continuation of the band 20, as seen in FIGURE 2.

The band 20 has a plurality of spaced and opposed notches 11 cut in theside edges thereof, between the head 13 and tongue 21, which defines aplurality of spaced and opposed teeth 12.

Reference numerals 15 and 16 indicate a pair of opposed lugs locatedinside the head 13, immediately above the plane of the slot 14, parallelthereto, and spaced apart a distance equal to that between the roots ofthe opposed band notches 11.

In applying the strap 10 to a bundle of electrical cables 18, as seen inFIGURE 4, the band 20 is looped around the cables 18 with its tongueplaced in alignment with the head slot 14. The tongue 21 is then made topass through the slot 14, and the band 20 pulled forward, in the planeof the slot, until its looped section is snugly fitted around the cables18, as seen in FIGURE 5.

While holding the band 20 taut, the band is flexed sharply upward, at anangle of to position one pair of the opposed notches 11 between the headlugs 15 and 16, with one pair of the adjacent teeth 12 seated on top ofthe opposed lugs, as seen in FIGURE 3. In this, flexed position, theband is securely locked against retractive movement out of the head 13.The natural resilience of the grouped cables will maintain the bandteeth in firm engagement with the lugs 15 and 16.

To intentionally remove the cable-strap 10 the upwardly flexed portionof the band 20 is pulled forward, against the resistance of theencircled cables, until the engaged teeth are free of the lugs, at whichpoint the band is flexed downward, back to its horizontal plane, inwhich position it is free to be retracted through the slot 14 and out ofthe head 13.

The so released cable-strap can be replaced and removed as often asrequired, without damage to itself and without any loss in its holdingefliciency.

It will now be clear that there has been provided a device whichaccomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth.

While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is tobe understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described andillustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense.

I claim:

1. A cable strap adapted to encircle two or more cables and maintainthem in a compact bundle, comprising:

(a) a flexible, flat, band having an enlarged slotted head at onethereof, formed integral therewith, and extending from one side thereof,and a tongue at the other end thereof adapted to be laterally insertedin the head slot when the band is curved upon itself around a bundle ofcables;

(b) the band having a plurality of spaced and opposed notches cut in theedges thereof, between the head and tongue, defining a plurality ofspaced and opposed teeth;

(c) a pair of opposed strap guiding and locking lugs located in the headimmediately above the plane of the slot, parallel thereto, and spacedapart a distance equal to that between the roots of the opposed bandnotches;

(d) that portion of the band in the head slot being adapted to be flexedbetween a first, flat position, clear of the head lugs, and a second,upwardly tilted position, wherein the lugs are engaged by one set of thepaired notches and teeth;

(e) the band being free to travel through the head slot, in eitherdirection, when in its first position, and being locked againstretraction therefrom, When in UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1961 Hallsey.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,379,034 10/1964 France. 1,086,292 10/1967 GreatBritain.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner

